Dressed to the nines, and groomed like a prince, Yo-Yo Ma lived up to his title of most-attractive classical musician alive when he sat down to take part in a news conference at the Shanghai Grand Theater yesterday afternoon.
Ma is in town to perform the solo section of Dvorak's Cello Concerto tonight at the theater, part of a non-stop tour that Ma says often leaves him feeling homesick.
"I have been traveling around the world to give concerts for 25 years, ever since I became a professional cellist, and nobody is more sensitive to the word 'home' than I am," said the Paris-born Chinese musician who now lives in Boston.
It's because of homesickness that he chose to perform Dvorak's well-known work, which the Czech composer wrote about his homeland while staying in New York.
While he was born in Europe, and lives in the United States, Ma is still proud of his Chinese roots, a point he made clear when proudly mentioning Tan Dun won a Grammy Award on Wednesday for Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or other Visual Media, for his work on the film "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon."
"That's too great!" Ma shouted excitedly while clapping his hands.
Ma, who has 14 Grammies of his own, played cello on the Chinese composer's winning album.
Last night Ma gave a seminar at the Grand Theater, coaching three young cello students from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music on their technique.
This morning, he will spend three hours rehearsing with the Shanghai Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra for the big show tonight.
(eastday.com March 1, 2002)
